Mothproofing composition



Patented July 5, 1927. y I

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL G. MINA-EFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, IBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE LABVEX CORPORATION, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW Yonx.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to moth proofing compositions containing a soluble fluoride or a soluble silico-fluoride of the alkali metals or of the metals zinc and aluminum or mixtures of such fluoride or silico-fluoride salts, adapted to be readily and easily absorbed by woolen fabrics, yarns, furs. and the like, when applied thereto, and capableof rendering such goods which have been treated with such composition, practically speaking, immune to the attacks of the moth larvae without, however, exhibiting any of the detrimental efl'ects of the goods which have been subjected to the well known processes wherein such fluorides are applied in the presence of a large amount of acid.

. It has heretofore been proposed to protectsuch articles from the attack of moth larvae by employing sodium fluoride or sodium silico-fluoride, but,-in all of the prior processes, so far as I am aware, the impregnation of the fabric has been accomplished in the presence of a relatively large amount of acid. Particularly in the earl stages of this art sulphuric acid was used n relatively large quantities and at fairly high concentrations, This acid treatment ultimately affected the fabric, decreasing its tensile strength and durability. Later in the art milder acids were substituted-which minimized the deleterious effect of the stronger acids previously used, but, nevertheless, suflicient acid was present to a preciabl impair the strength and dura ility o the abric.

With these considerations in mind, one of the objects of this invention is to provide an effective moth proofing treatment for finished fabrics, knitted goods, etc. For example, the present invention is particularly well suited to household use and to the treatment of finished fabrics after they leave the mill and either before or after making such fabrics into clothing. Being intended for such use, it widely differs from prior moth proofing treatments and particularly those practised in conjunction with dyeing processes or during the manufacture of fabrics. In these latter cases, liberal amounts of either strong or relatively weak acids have been employed and the goods thoroughly washed or rinsed or subjected to some subsequent treatment. However, when norrrrnoorme conrosrrrou.

' Application filed June 21. 1924. Serial No. 721,562.

treating finished" goods, garments, etc., thorough washing or rinsing is not practical or feasible and thus the treatment of this invention is constituted to properly moth proof without requiring subsequent washing and without impairing the fibers of the treated woolens.

Another object of the invention is to obtam a moth proofing treatment which willbe permanent, i. e., will not be lost through wear, usage, cleamng, wetting by rain, etc.

A further object of the invention is a moth proofin composition which may be efliciently an properly applied to woolens by spraying or sponging them with the composition. fluorides in combination with other chemicals, having moth proofing properties, do' not easily penetrate into fabrics and when applied in pure form'are apt to' roll off or evaporate Without impregnating the fabrics. The production of a practical moth proofmg solution involves therefore the of obtaining a composition which Wlll efiectuall wet the fabric and be dissipated by capll ar attraction throughout the fabric in order t at a uniform mot-h proofing may be obtained and to preclude, furthermore, spotting or marking of delicate fabrics. Even if fabrics be immersed in a moth proofmg solution, the wettin of the fabric or thorough impregnation t ereof by the moth proofing solution does not always readily follow; but, furthermore, as it is not feasible to immerse finished articles, clothing, etc., in a moth proofing solution, the solution must, to be practical, be so constituted, that it will of itself effect eflicient wetting of the fabric. It is an object of this invention, therefore, to'provide a moth proofing composition which will accomplish this result. It is known that'solutions of fluorides and silico-fiuorides are efiective in making woolen fabrics immune to the attacks of moth larvae. My investigations have shown,however, that if sodium sulphate or other soluble sulphate is added to a solution of sodium fluoride or sodium silico-fluoride, woolens treated therewith take up or absorb the solution much more readily and with greater rapidity than in cases where solutions of sodium fluoride or sodium silico-fluoride are used alone or in admixture. Moreover, it is problem I have found that solutions of found that when a soluble sulphate is employed the moth proofing efl'ect is increased.

While itis possible to moth proof woolens by im regnatmg them with sodium fluoride or sodium silico-fluoride, either with or Without the addition of sodium sulphate or other soluble sulphate, my research showed that the best results are obtained when a relatively Weak acid, in well defined predetermine quantities, is employed in eonjunction with these salts: For example: when solutions'of a soluble fluoride or a soluble silico-fluoride of the alkali metals, and more especially solutions of sodium fluoride and sodium silico-fluoride are to be used, maxi mum efliciency with respect to ease of wetting, permanency of moth proofing and lack of deteriorating eiiect, may be obtained by adding to these solutions a small quantity of an organic acid, such as oxalic, tartaric, formic, citric or acetic acids.

I have found that certain small amounts of these acids Jllziitllitlll) increase the wetting power at" the moth proofing composition for Woolen fabrics and appreciably increase the porinanency of the moth proofing effect.

(it all the salt solutions enumerated thus far, it was found that a solution containing sodium fluoride in a. concentration of up prouhoately one percent, t lauber's salt-'- thno tenths of one percent to which less than one tenth of one percent oi an organic mid to. oxalicncid or citric acid), added, r5- es more satisfactory results than u eiliiliitiii ot sodium iluoricle alone, or a. solo t-i n of sodium liuoridc to which (ilaubers salt l1 s horn mldcd. when these are used as the impregnating and EIlOlili proofing agents in the treatment oi' u'oolens or Woolen cloths. in lieu of oxalic acid or citric acid. such acids as l-irznic. tartaric or acetic acids may he used. lln all cases the acid strength is less than one tenth ot one percent; and in practice I usually einplo about 03% of mid.

A soluton continuing sodium silicolluoriile oi. o strength of approximately one half of one percent. aluintlirce tenths of one pmeent. to which approximately l/lllli) to 3/100 of one percent of oxalic ucid is added. can also be used with very satisiae tory results in place ol :1 sodium fluoride acid solution just mentioned above.

The exact amounts of acids to be added will vary for different nucleus and Woolen fabrics; but for general purposes the acid strengths which I have referred to will be found sati fac ory for general use.

It will be noted that the amounts of acid referred to are relatively small. and that these proportion are taken advisedly since research and experimentation have clearly demonstrated that in order to maintain the durability of the treated fabric, the acidity of such fabric must he nmintained at :1.

minimum. This minimum amount of acid is that amount which will produce the desired result Without eflecting an appreciable increase in the acidity of the resulting moth prooi'ed product, whilst materially improving the wetting power and the permanency toward the rinsing and washing of the moth proofing eilect.

This acid concentration which shows a minimum of deleterious cilects with a great increase in the desirable properties, i term the optimum amount of acid. This optimum is notidentical for all woolens, hut varies within a small range and is found Within the limits of acidity as expressed above.

The proportions which I have referred to give a very clear understanding" of the percent of acid used in this invention in contradistinction to the very lihcrul use of acids as heretofore carried on in prior art pro cesses where relatively .liil'lijt?fltl2l1ltllllfi5 of acids were employed with a View to making sure that suilicicnt acid was incliulcd, and without due regard to the detrimental eii'ects oi a pronounciully acid reaction in the re suiting product.

Any one of these cinnpositions in which the fluoride or siluro-lluoride suit the rsseoiiul ingredient. is packaged and sold to the trade in such 'l'orni that it can he up plied to woolen ,QUtlijlfi: in the raw or finished state l y immersion, spraying or the hire.

it is to he noted that cloth treated with my moth prsol o e u iiiisition does not have to he rinsed or oi as is the case in the prior processes wherein fluorides are applied. in a strongly acidic fit'j lilllltlll.

lit the term eoluhlc fluoride, I. mean to include llu o'i l' l the olltoli metals, such :is sodium. oi Hilllll. lii'thiuui and also the metals zinc and ulu uiiunn.

l ly the term soiuhle. silicodluoride, ll: mean to include the silic lluorides oi? the alkali metals. and mine and aluminum.

The term a. metal snlpluitc" is intended. to include the nllmli metal shilphates as Well as nine and aluminum sulpl'uiieo, :md. potash alum.

it is of commercial practical importance that when using the composition including silicwlluorides, soluble sulphates and the smal quantity oi acid as described, it will not act on glass: and this rende a it P05" sible to package the composition for house hold use in bottles in which it may be kept indefiniiel i' and ready for use.

Having thus fully described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure lay Letters Patent is:

l. A moth proofing com osition contain-- ing therein a soluble fluorite, a metal sul. fate, and an organic acid in a quantity ct less than .1%.

2. A moth proofing composition contain ill) lllll lilii lid) lltlfl ing therein a solublefluoride, approximatein a uantity of less than 1%.

ing therein a solublefluori than .1%.

moth'proofing com sition containe approximately of a. metal "sulfate,

1%, approximately .3% I

a quantity/of less and an organic acid in 5.. Armoth proofin composition containing therein a soluble li uoride, a metal sulfate, and citric acid ina quantity of less than 1%.

6. A moth groofing solution containing a soluble silico uoride, alum, and an organic acid in'a quantity of'less than .1%

7. A moth proofin solution containin a soluble silico fluori e, salt, and less than .1% of an organic acid.

8.-A moth proofing solution containing a soluble silico fluoride, a suitable aluminum salt, and less than .1% of an organic .acid.

9. A moth proofing soluble silico fluoride of approximately .5%, alum, and an organic acid in a quantity of less than .1%. i

10; A moth proofing solution containing therein a, soluble silico fluoride approximately .5%, alum approximately .3%, and an organic acid in a quantity of less than 1%.

' than 105%.

a suitable meta io .03

solution containing a 11.- A moth roofing solution containin therein a solub e silico fluoride, alum, an

.an organic acid in a quantity of less than t 12. A moth proofing solution containing therein a sodium silico fluoride, alum, and an organic acid in a quantity of less than .1 I 13. A moth proofing solution containing therein sodium silico fluoride, approximately .5%, alum, and an organic acid in a quantity ofless than .O5%.

14. A moth proofing solution containing therein sodlum silico uoride approximatean organic acid 15.11 moth proofing solution containing therein sodium silico fluoride, alum, and an organic acid in a quantity from .01% to 16. A moth proofingsolution containin therein sodium silico fluoride, alum, an oxalic acid in a quantity from .0l% to .03%.

17. A moth proofing composition embodying a chemical capable of rendering woolens immune from the attacks of moth larvae and in solution therewith an acid in a quantity less than.1%.

Intestimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

MICHAEL c. MINAEFF,

5%, alum' approximately .3 and v in a quantitl of less 

